One million people call on FCC to “save net neutrality”

A coalition of consumer advocacy groups said that more than 1 million people signed a petition calling on the Federal Communications Commission to "reassert the agency’s clear authority over our nation’s communications infrastructure" by reclassifying broadband as a telecommunications service subject to common carriage rules.

The action stems from a court ruling that struck down FCC rules preventing Internet service providers from blocking services or discriminating against certain types of traffic. The FCC can't enforce those rules because it didn't take the step of classifying broadband providers as common carriers, the ruling said.

Former FCC Commissioner Michael Copps called on the commission to reclassify broadband, and the nonprofit Free Press simultaneously led the aforementioned petition drive.

"On Thursday, Free Press led a coalition of organizations—including the ACLU, Avaaz, Common Cause, ColorOfChange, CREDO, DailyKos, Demand Progress, Fight for the Future, the Harry Potter Alliance, MoveOn, RootsAction, and the Sierra Club's SierraRise community—that delivered more than 1 million petitions to the Federal Communications Commission urging the agency to restore Net Neutrality," the group said.

"Right now there is no one protecting Internet users from ISPs that block or discriminate against websites, applications, or services," the petition said. "Companies like Verizon will now be able to block or slow down any website, application, or service they like. And they’ll be able to create tiered pricing structures with fast lanes for those who can afford the tolls and slow lanes for everyone else."

Free Press also delivered a letter signed by more than 85 organizations to the FCC.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has said he intends to find a new way to preserve the concepts of the Open Internet Order, but he has not taken a position on whether to classify ISPs as common carriers.

After yesterday's FCC meeting, Wheeler said, "You will see some specifics coming out shortly," according to DSLReports. "We are looking at all the tools in the toolbox and we will be forthcoming with our plan and rationale shortly."